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St. Mary’s Catholic School

In September 1881, classes began at St. Mary’s Catholic School. The Sisters from the order of the Precious Blood from Ruma, IL taught the 40 students. There was only one teacher. . . Sister Catherine. The school was located on Second Street between Pear and Plum Streets.

In 1900, due to the growth of the parish and town, Father Budde decided it was necessary to move the church and school to a more centrally located place. Construction began on the new buildings at 5th and Chestnut Street. In 1920, there were four Sisters teaching in the school and the school year was extended from 7 months to 8 months.

In 1952-53, the present St. Mary’s Catholic School was built to accommodate the increase in enrollment and provide the much needed necessities. This school was a 1st-8th grade school with the enrollment of 218 students with five Sisters teaching the students.

After 91 years of service and dedication to St. Mary’s, the Sisters of the Precious Blood had to withdraw from the school. In 1972, the order of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ provided Sisters for the school.

So here we are today. Our Catholic School is a Preschool-8th grade with a present enrollment of 141 students. Our school exists to carry on the mission to pass on our faith. Our faith challenges us to live the Gospel message, to build community, and to serve all people. Our state and diocesan accredited school offers the latest in technology in each classroom with Eno Boards, iPads, along with a computer lab and a mobile lab. We strive each and every day for academic excellence and meeting the needs of all the students. The faculty and staff strive to secure that each student feels safe, loved, and respected.

The Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care, a new option for senior living, is nearing completion at 928 Enterprise Lane in Mt. Carmel. Phillips Investments, LLC is making an investment to provide Mt. Carmel an upscale private pay 50-unit assisted living facility with an integrated 24-unit memory care community. Unique Homes, an award-winning design and build firm is the general contractor for the facility. The site selected for the 65,000-sq. ft. facility is located across from Super 8 on a parcel of land which allows room for future expansion. “Dad and I have been working with area leaders for nearly a year on this project. We are pleased by this vote of confidence. It’s exciting to see construction progressing and I know anyone walking through our doors will see the attention to detail we put into every room. We have many reservations for apartments and feel truly blessed to have this opportunity to serve seniors in the Wabash County area,” said Chad Phillips, Phillips Investments, LLC partner. The Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care is based in Charleston, Illinois. The faith based, family-owned and locally-operated company employs over 850 people across its 20 communities in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida. The communities offer a full range of personalized senior living services including independent living, assisted living, and care for individuals with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss.The Villas of Holly Brook Assisted Living and Reflections Memory Care community will serve approximately 140 residents ages 65+. The residents at the Villas of Holly Brook can choose from one bedroom, two bedroom or two bedroom deluxe apartments. One monthly fee includes three meals and snacks daily, around-the-clock assistance, Personal Response System, inspired daily activities, laundry, housekeeping, cable and utilities (except phone), spacious common areas, beautiful courtyards and so much more. Reflections Memory Care residents can choose a suite with private bath or a shared suite with private bath. They will enjoy three daily meals, 24-hour Refreshment and Beverage Bar, assistance with all activities of daily living, and nurse medication management. Memory care therapies include Sensory Room, Horticulture Therapy, Therapy Kitchen, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, beautiful Sensory Gardens and fun cognitive activities in a secure environment provided by compassionate staff members.

“Each of our communities has high scores with the Illinois Department of Health,” says Reggie Phillips. The Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care communities have earned thirteen Deficiency Free State Surveys, a distinction held by less than 1% of assisted living communities in the nation. This demonstrates our commitment to providing our residents with the highest quality of care and recognizes the dedication of our professional staff. Each is passionate about having a positive impact on those we serve and rest assured that this is the care we will bring to Mt. Carmel as well."

Hadley Phillips remarked, “With our focus on growing exceptional assisted living and memory care specialty communities, we will continue to expand services throughout - creating excellent paying jobs with great benefits. This project will serve the needs of seniors and provide economic growth opportunities in Mt. Carmel. We appreciate all the support provided by area officials for this project. We welcome the opportunity to give you a tour soon during our Grand Opening Celebration, so you can see why families say the Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care are Simply the Best!”For more information or to reserve an apartment, call Sherri Farris, Executive Director, orMeagan Henning, Community Relations Director, at (618) 263-1066. ...